Jessie Lilac Blog

After I drew this I realised I must have been influenced by all the Halloween ghoulishness (is that a word?) going on around me today. Why the teapot and cup of tea? Um...not sure yet. I don't know about you but I look back at a drawing a few days later and it suddenly occurs to me what was in my subconcious! Very revealing, this business of drawing! ;)

I thought it was about time I did a Halloween themed picture as we've only a few days to go! This is a colour combination I haven't tried before and if you're familiar with my painting, you'll know how difficult it is to restrain myself from using more colours than just the two! Hmmm...or is that 3?

When a snail's in a hurry, there's got to be a better way of getting there fast!

There was a man next to me in life drawing today who sounded as though he was having a wrestling match with his paper and charcoal. I could hear frantic bouts of scrubbing and heavy sighs, and when he'd finished he had made such a big pile of black charcoal bits under his easel, that he had to clean it up with a dustpan and brush. (Don't forget this is an art room and the odd bit of drawing materials usually get on the floor, but obviously not this much!) It reminded me of a time when I made large charcoal drawings in the life room and ended up with black all over both sides of both hands and most of my face, along with various hand prints across my clothes. When I first started to draw in an A4 sketchbook it felt so small and difficult. These days, it's my preferred way of drawing, in a sketchbook with a nice pointy pencil. I still make smudges (believe it or not), it's just that I rub them out as I go along!

My friend and I have been collaborating on a book for very young children callled Bear and Popple Play Hide and Seek and it's now available to buy! We had the idea because we both have small grandchildren of similar ages and we wanted to get this finished for them before christmas. Yay! :)

I really wanted to do this week's Illustration Friday topic and had various ideas but time was against me. You have no idea how a broken washing machine can rule my life! I did do some sketchbook drawings though,and here they are. I hope they'll do!

I had this image in my mind for a while and didn't really know how I could make it look as though there were 2 pairs of arms going round the bodies! I hope I've achieved it, even though I've ended up with just the one hand. The other are hidden behind at the back you see, they are - really!

I went to life drawing this morning and today we had a male model. Personally I prefer to draw females, as I enjoy drawing the shapes of the curves. One of the people in the group said he prefers to draw a male because you can see the skeletal structure more easily. He told of when they had an overweight male model once and how he didn't like it. I wish I could have drawn him! After saying all that though, I did enjoy this morning especially drawing a 'new' face!

These frogs like to put on a show and love to be admired while they perform. Burnt sienna, rose madder and cobalt blue...hmmm I must do that combination again :)

I like drawing pictures of flying and have done a couple recently which I could have submitted to Illustration Friday but what I really like about IF , is the challenge of starting something new each week!

I had an image of a bird on my mind that looked a bit like this. I like drawing birds.

Thankyou so much for joining in my giveaway draw and for your really lovely messages about my work. I want to give all of you the postcards that you said you liked! I wish I could but then there wouldn't be any point in the draw would there? ;) heehee! I've put your names in a bag and now I can reveal that the winner of 3 of my postcards plus an extra little gift is... ...ta da!... Julie-Ann!!! Julie-Ann had chosen Thinking of Home, The Light and The Decision. Congratualations Julie-Ann! Please send me your address so I can post them to you soon. :)

I love paintings with moons in them and we've just had the most beautiful full moon. This is a sketchbook page so a very quick (and a bit wonky!) moon, but a moon nevertheless! Don't forget I'm having a GIVEAWAY this friday, so if you'd like to take part, click here to leave your message on the post. :)

I've noticed today that I have 100 followers - HOORAY!! A big thankyou to you if you're one of them and a big thankyou to YOU sat here reading this for coming to visit me! I really appreciate your support and your visits and comments :)x This can only mean one thing.... A GIVEAWAY!! I have about 15 postcards of my paintings listed on Etsy and if you'd like to receive not one, but three for free along with another little secret treat, all you have to do is tell me in the comments box of this post, which ones are your favourites and why. Click HERE to see the whole list and you can choose any 3! On friday 9th October I shall put your names in a bag and it could be your name that shall be drawn. Good luck!